Determination, hard work key to success: Neha Krishna, winner of US beauty pageant to WION

Neha Krishna of Indian origin won the coveted Washington State Ms Asia pageant held on November 18 in Seattle Washington.

Born in Pink City of India, Jaipur, Krishna’s humble upbringing never stopped her from realizing her mammoth dreams. She pursued design from MS University in Gujarat and went on to earn her MBA in Human Resource Management from Symbiosis University. It was after she got married and moved to the US when she decided to fan her dreams of contesting beauty pageants, and there was no looking back.

Krishna previously held positions in the human resource department of major technology giants such as Microsoft, Amazon, and Facebook. She now works as an engineering campus recruiter for Google.

For Krishna, hard work is the mantra, she believes in taking no shortcuts and living by the values of determination, grit and grace.

She plans to work alongside women representatives of other minority groups in the United States to bring awareness to the unique challenges that women of these segments face on a day to day basis.

In conversation with WION, Krishna got candid and shared her life's journey to the glorious day when she was awarded the coveted crown.

WION: Take us through your journey to winning this crown

Krishna: It was not easy, I come from a middle-class family in Jaipur. My father works with the United Nations and they had different plans for me. They weren’t very supportive of my desire to join the world of glamour or contest pageants, but you know it – if you have the will, the path will construct itself.

I got married, moved to the US. It wasn’t easy as you would know the work permit issues and US immigration policies. I kept at it, worked in some of the biggest tech companies, kept building contacts and in the end, my determination and hard work got me where I am today.

WION: How would you use this win for the betterment of the society?

Krishna: The title puts me in a place of responsibility. Wearing a crown helps you make a change. I want to use my crown and title to influence and impact things positively on a large scale. I’m passionate about a few pressing issues at this time which includes education for one and all and better mental health plans. We need a sound education system and solid health care programs to create a strong nation.

It is important for me to give back to my home country- India. I want be a brand ambassador for Indian culture and help build strong ties back home.

WION: Your thoughts on politics of colour

Krishna: No matter how much we say "everyone is equal," our policies, our history and our daily social interactions betray us. My goal as a crown holder is to work on minimizing this division. The only way forward is to build inclusion and diversity in all we do. Race is a conversation point and deeply rooted in our system. My hope is we look for similarities amongst us than differences.

WION: What’s next Neha Krishna?

Krishna: I am married to a very ambitious man, it keeps me driven, the only reason why I happily juggle my profession a recruiter and give wings to my passion. I would love to get more opportunities, act model, contest pageants. It is a dream to win titles like Mrs India in my very own motherland.

WION: Share your fitness mantra

Krishna: I eat everything, I burn all that out. Another thing, when you are happy from within it reflects from on your face. You have to constantly try and make yourself happy, create happiness.

WION: Your message to women

Krishna: Don’t let anyone tell you that you can’t do it or that you can’t have it all. With determination, grit and hard work, you will achieve it all. Chin up and dream big!

(Neha Krishna is this year’s title holder of Washington State Miss Asia. She gets an entry to contest Miss Asia America next year in October.)

Story highlights

For Krishna, hard work is the mantra, she believes in taking no shortcuts and living by the values of determination, grit and grace.